Handheld Computer Console Emulation Module and Method of Managing a Logically-Partitioned Multi-User Computer with Same

1. A method of managing a logical partition on a logically-partitioned computer, the method comprising: (a) connecting a handheld computer to an adapter on the logically-partitioned computer via a plug-in module coupled to the handheld computer and connected to the adapter via a cable; and (b) configuring the handheld computer to emulate a console for a logical partition in the logically-partitioned computer using program code resident in the plug-in module, wherein configuring the handheld computer to emulate the console includes automatically downloading the program code from the plug-in module to the handheld computer and initiating execution of the program code by the handheld computer in response to coupling the plug-in module to the handheld computer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the logically-partitioned computer comprises an AS/400-compatible midrange computer, and wherein the adapter comprises a workstation adapter allocated to the at least one logical partition.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the program code is configured to control the handheld computer to emulate a 5250-compatible console that communicates with an AS/400-compatible midrange computer.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein connecting the handheld computer to the adapter comprises attaching the cable to the adapter and to a network interface on the plug-in module.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the network interface comprises a Twinax-compatible interface suitable for communicating with an AS/400-compatible midrange computer.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising authenticating with the logical partition via the emulated console.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing a system administration operation on the logical partition via the emulated console.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising performing a second system administration operation on a second logical partition in the logically-partitioned computer.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first adapter is allocated to the first logical partition, and wherein the logically-partitioned computer includes a second adapter allocated to the second logical partition, the method further comprising, after performing the first system administration operation, disconnecting the cable from the first adapter and connecting the cable to the second adapter, wherein performing the second system administration operation is performed via the handheld computer and plug-in module interacting with the second logical partition through the second adapter.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first adapter is allocated to the first logical partition, wherein the logically-partitioned computer includes a second adapter allocated to the second logical partition, wherein the plug-in module includes first and second network interfaces, wherein the first cable is coupled to the first network interface, the method further comprising, prior to performing the second system administration operation, connecting a second cable between the second adapter and the second network interface, wherein performing the second system administration operation is performed via the handheld computer and plug-in module interacting with the second logical partition through the second adapter, and while the first cable is coupled between the first adapter and first network interface.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first adapter is allocated to the first logical partition, wherein the logically-partitioned computer includes a second adapter allocated to the second logical partition, the method further comprising: (a) connecting a second handheld computer to the second adapter via a second plug-in module coupled to the second handheld computer; and (b) configuring the second handheld computer to emulate a second console for the second logical partition in the logically-partitioned computer using program code resident in the second plug-in module.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising performing the first and second system administration operations while a user is concurrently authenticated to the first and second logical partitions.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first adapter is allocated to the first logical partition, wherein the logically-partitioned computer includes a second adapter allocated to the second logical partition, wherein the plug-in module includes first and second network interfaces, wherein the first cable is coupled to the first network interface, the method further comprising: (a) connecting a second cable between the second adapter and the second network interface; (b) authenticating a user with each of the first and second logical partitions via the plug-in module while the first and second cables are coupled respectively between the first and second adapters and the first and second interfaces, wherein the first and second system administration operations are performed while the user is concurrently authenticated to the first and second logical partitions.

14. A computer system, comprising: (a) a logically-partitioned computer including a plurality of logical partitions; (b) an adapter coupled to the logically-partitioned computer and configured to access at least one of the plurality of logical partitions; and (c) a handheld computer coupled to the adapter via a plug-in module coupled to the handheld computer and connected to the adapter via a cable, wherein the plug-in module includes program code configured to be automatically downloaded from the plug-in module to the handheld computer and executed by the handheld computer when the plug-in module is coupled to the handheld computer to control the handheld computer to emulate a console for the at least one logical partition.

15. A plug-in module for a handheld computer, comprising: (a) a network interface configured to receive a network connector; (b) a memory; and (c) program code resident in the memory and configured to be automatically downloaded from the memory to a handheld computer and executed by the handheld computer when the plug-in module is coupled to the handheld computer to control the handheld computer to emulate a console that communicates with a multi-user computer over the network interface.

16. The module of claim 15 , wherein the network interface comprises a twinaxial interface, and wherein the network connector comprises a twinaxial connector.

17. The module of claim 16 , wherein the network interface comprises a Twinax-compatible interface suitable for communicating with an AS/400-compatible midrange computer, and wherein the network connector comprises a Twinax-compatible connector.

18. The module of claim 15 , wherein the program code is configured to control the handheld computer to emulate a 5250-compatible console that communicates with an AS/400-compatible midrange computer.

19. The module of claim 15 , wherein the program code is configured to control the handheld computer to emulate a console that communicates with a logical partition in a logically-partitioned multi-user computer.

20. The module of claim 15 , further comprising a second network interface configured to receive a second network connector.

21. The module of claim 20 , wherein the program code is configured to control the handheld computer to emulate first and second consoles that respectively communicate with first and second logical partitions in a logically-partitioned multi-user computer over the first and second network interfaces.

22. An apparatus, comprising: (a) a handheld computer including a module interface; and (b) a plug-in module coupled to the module interface of the handheld computer, the plug-in module including a network interface configured to receive a network connector, a memory, and program code resident in the memory and configured to be automatically downloaded from the plug-in module to the handheld computer and executed by the handheld computer when the plug-in module is coupled to the handheld computer to control the handheld computer to emulate a console that communicates with a multi-user computer over the network interface.